Internationals International Player of the Year

[mt.wellington]

International Player of the Year shortlists revealed



A Scot, a Kiwi and an Australian have been shortlisted for Rugby League’s most prestigious individual award, the 2013 International Player of the Year.

Scotland half-back Danny Brough, Australia full-back Greg Inglis and New Zealand second row Sonny Bill Williams are all in contention for the coveted title which will be awarded at the Rugby League International Federation dinner in Manchester next week.

Brough, the 2013 Super League Man of Steel, has enjoyed the most successful year of his career, having guided unfancied Scotland to the quarter-finals of Rugby League World Cup 2013 after being the pivotal figure behind his club Huddersfield Giants securing the Super League Leaders’ Shield, the first time they topped the league at the end of the regular season since 1932.

Inglis was the stand-out performer for South Sydney in 2013, a year which saw the Rabbitohs finish second in the NRL before going within a whisker of a Grand Final appearance. He also starred for Queensland in their State of Origin series win and has been a key part of the Kangaroos’ quest to win RLWC2013.

Williams made a spectacular return to Rugby League with Sydney Roosters in 2013 following five years in rugby union and boxing. He was the Roosters’ star player as they won both the NRL Minor Premiership and Grand Final, and has been a massive figure for the Kiwis during their world title defence during RLWC2013.

The RLIF dinner will also feature a number of other awards, including Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Referee of the Year and Spirit of Rugby League Award.

The shortlist for Coach of the Year features the coaches of NRL and Super League Grand Final winners Sydney Roosters and Wigan Warriors, Trent Robinson and Shaun Wane, who are joined by Michael Maguire, who led South Sydney to their most successful season in several generations in 2013.

The Rabbitohs and Roosters also have players shortlisted for Rookie of the Year, an award open to players aged under 21 at the start of the voting period (October 2012) who have made their international debuts during the year. South Sydney and England forward George Burgess and Boyd Cordner, the Roosters and Australia second row, are joined by Canberra Raiders and Samoa full-back Anthony Milford.

The match officials shortlisted for International Referee of the Year are Ben Cummins (Australia), Shayne Hayne (Australia) and Richard Silverwood (England).

Full details of the winners from the 2013 RLIF International Player of the Year awards will be announced following the gala dinner at the Lowry Hotel, Manchester, on Wednesday November 27.

The RLIF International Player of the Year award shortlists are as follows:

Player of the YearDanny Brough (Huddersfield Giants and Scotland)
Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs and Australia)
Sonny Bill Williams (Sydney Roosters and New Zealand)

Rookie of the Year
George Burgess (South Sydney and England)
Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters and Australia)
Anthony Milford (Canberra Raiders and Samoa)

Coach of the Year
Michael Maguire (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Trent Robinson (Sydney Roosters)
Shaun Wane (Wigan Warriors)

Referee of the Year
Ben Cummins (Australia)
Shayne Hayne (Australia)
Richard Silverwood (England)

 

[mt.wellington]

Voted for SBW. He's been in fine form since his return.

Would go Boyd Cordner for Rookie, Trent Robinson for Coach and anyone but Hayne for Referee...

 

[Sup42]

Should be Isaac Luke who has been the player of the tournament at the WC.

 

[mt.wellington]

Should be Isaac Luke who has been the player of the tournament at the WC.

Includes the regular season of NRL or ESL. My only other NRL player I would have nominated would have been Corey Parker but he doesnt go so well in rep footy really...

 

[Tonbridge (Swanley)]

Brough has my vote. Man of Steel and what he did with Scotland was really good.

 

[Tonbridge (Swanley)]

Inglis can't win it. Has won nothing this year. SBW a GF, Brough as above, if Kiwis win WC then SBW should win.

 

[OMG]

Includes the regular season of NRL or ESL. My only other NRL player I would have nominated would have been Corey Parker but he doesnt go so well in rep footy really...

Parker has been pretty good in the WC, it was when he came on against England that the tide turned, coincidence probably and was unsung hero in Origin, especially the final..Good call that Mr consistent-unlucky not to get the Kudos he deserves..

 

[SilentOne]

Parker was outstanding for QLD this year and last year too.

 

[mt.wellington]

I'll take that back about Parker and rep footy. He is one of my favourite players and always gives 110%. Sadly doesnt get the credit he deserves but the guys an absolute machine. Pity the Broncos didnt go so well this year...

 

[Weno]

Should be Isaac Luke who has been the player of the tournament at the WC.

How do we vote for him?
Cant believe Isaac is not a candidate.

 

[mt.wellington]

How do we vote for him?
Cant believe Isaac is not a candidate.

Already been shortlisted to the 3 above...

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Includes the regular season of NRL or ESL. My only other NRL player I would have nominated would have been Corey Parker but he doesnt go so well in rep footy really...

He played well in SOO I thought, in fact he was one of Qlands better forwards.....his no look pass last week was ridiculous too but yeah I would have had him in the running for sure......[DOUBLEPOST=1385166499][/DOUBLEPOST]

I'll take that back about Parker and rep footy. He is one of my favourite players and always gives 110%. Sadly doesnt get the credit he deserves but the guys an absolute machine. Pity the Broncos didnt go so well this year...

Sorry I replied to that last post before I read this.....needless to say yeah he definitely doesnt get the credit he deserves....this season he was easily one of the best players going around.....Qland started Ash Harrison over him in SOO 1 too LOL

 

[eudebrito]

SBW was able to get his team over the line to the premiership as their #1 attacking threat through the finals, Inglis couldn't. Both been good at the WC, bit silly they'll name the winner before the final is played.

 

[mt.wellington]

SBW was able to get his team over the line to the premiership as their #1 attacking threat through the finals, Inglis couldn't. Both been good at the WC, bit silly they'll name the winner before the final is played.

Not really as that would automatically eliminate Danny from contention. I think the winners been voted on TBH. Just waiting for the GF dinner to make show of it...

 

[mt.wellington]

Sonny Bill takes home rugby league's top award
Last updated 11:34 28/11/2013


Getty Images
SBW AWARD: Sonny Bill Williams has been named Rugby League International Federation Player of the Year for 2013.

Sonny Bill Williams has been named Rugby League International Federation Player of the Year for 2013.

The New Zealand and Sydney Roosters forward received the sport's most prestigious individual honour at the RLIF's gala dinner at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester.

The award crowns a remarkable first season back in rugby league for Williams, who returned to the sport at the turn of the year after a five-year absence in rugby union and professional boxing.

Williams was a key figure in the Sydney Roosters team that won the club's first NRL Grand Final for over a decade and has been an integral part of the New Zealand side that is looking to complete a successful defence of the World Cup trophy against Australia in the final of RLWC2013 at Old Trafford.

The 28-year-old is the first Kiwi to win the International Player of the Year award, which has been won by Australian players since its inception in 2008 - Billy Slater (2008 and 2011), Jarryd Hayne (2009), Todd Carney (2010) and Cameron Smith (2012).

He held off stiff competition from the two other shortlisted players, Super League Man of Steel and Scotland half-back Danny Brough of Huddersfield Giants, and Greg Inglis, the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Australia full-back, to win the coveted international award.

All three players were also named in their respective positions in the 2013 International Team of the Year, a side selected on performances at club and representative level between October 2012 and November 2013.

The Team of the Year also features England and South Sydney front rower Sam Burgess, the 2013 Prop of the Year who is joined by a third Rabbitoh in Issac Luke, the Hooker of the Year.

The Burgess family had double cause for celebration with George Burgess being named International Rookie of the Year, an award open to players aged 21 or under who made their Test debut during the voting period.

Sydney Roosters have a second representative in the Team of the Year with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck joining his fellow countryman Sonny Bill Williams as Winger of the Year.

The NRL champions also received further recognition of their momentous year with Trent Robinson being named International Coach of the Year following his hugely successful debut season at the club since joining them from Catalan Dragons.

Robinson won the award ahead of a current Super League coach, Shaun Wane of Wigan Warriors, and another former Super League coach, Wane's predecessor, Michael Maguire, the coach of South Sydney.

Australian official Ben Cummins was named International Referee of the Year for a second successive year.

The awards are determined by an international judging panel comprising journalists, broadcasters and former international players drawn from both the northern and southern hemispheres.

Former BARLA Chief Executive Maurice Oldroyd was presented with the RLIF Spirit of Rugby League Award in recognition of his commitment to international development over more than four decades.

The winners of the 2013 RLIF International Player of the Year awards are:

International Player of the Year: Sonny Bill Williams (Sydney Roosters and New Zealand)

International Coach of the Year: Trent Robinson (Sydney Roosters and Australia)

International Rookie of the Year: George Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs and England)

International Referee of the Year: Ben Cummins (Australia)

Spirit of Rugby League Award: Maurice Oldroyd

INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR

Full-back: Greg Inglis (South Sydney and Australia)

Winger: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Sydney Roosters and New Zealand)

Centre: Jamie Lyon (Manly)

Stand-off: Danny Brough (Huddersfield Giants and Scotland)

Scrum-half: Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly and Australia)

Prop: Sam Burgess (South Sydney and England)

Hooker: Issac Luke (South Sydney and New Zealand)

Second row: Sonny Bill Williams (Sydney Roosters and New Zealand)

Loose forward: Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos and Australia)

- © Fairfax NZ News

Rugby league: Sonny Bill takes home rugby league's... | Stuff.co.nz[DOUBLEPOST=1385622657][/DOUBLEPOST]Good to see Isaac Luke get the nod over Cameron Smith who just needs to lace up his boots and he's won the MoM award as far as the Aussies think. Also happy to see 2 of my favourite players, Jamie Lyon and Corey Parker get the recognition they deserve. Both had amazing seasons...

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Thats such a great team......in fact I think in terms of tournament teams/teams of the year etc that is one of if not the best I've seen. Each player there throughly deserves their spot. Love the fact guys like JT, Gallen and Smith didnt get in by default.

 

[wallacenz]

shows how valuable lyon is. most complete centre in the game

 

[Sup42]

shows how valuable lyon is. most complete centre in the game

Why a ball playing center isn't the first position thought of when people talk about converting some of our excess back depth to other positions I'll never Know. A more muscular Kevin Locke could do the job nobbily in my opinion.....If Tuimavave is an option Locke is an option.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Why a ball playing center isn't the first position thought of when people talk about converting some of our excess back depth to other positions I'll never Know. A more muscular Kevin Locke could do the job nobbily in my opinion.....If Tuimavave is an option Locke is an option.

How your boy Shaun Johnson didnt make this team over that scrub DCE is mind boggling.

 

[ramraider78]

Now i know why I stay off those FB rugby league groups, Ozzies are so full of shit with there one eyed views, after reading a few posts of there's you get the feeling the international team of the year should be all Australians, what a blind bunch of gits.